Folding bed



F. A. HOEFT FOLDING BED Filed Feb. 23, 1946 Sept. 18, 1951 67/84 I I I K I I I 3 I I l I My I 40a /6 M (/60) v I 72 61 kg d 61 I I f M M Ma INVENTOIR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING BED Frank Albert Hoeft, Granton, Wis. Application February 23, 1846, Serial No. 649,681

This invention relates to a bed frame and particularly to a bed frame constructed and arranged to be collapsed and folded into a compact structure occupying a comparatively small space. I

It is an object of this invention to provide a bed frame comprising foldable or collapsible end frames and longitudinally extending side members comprising a, series of pivotally connected sections.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a folding bed frame comprising a pair of side members each of which is formed of a series of sections having pivots connecting them at their adjacent ends and having engaging surfaces at their ends above said pivots whereby when said sections are arranged in longitudinal rectilinear alignment they form a bar rigid against downward pressure, said sections however being movable about their pivots upon upward pressure.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a frame as set forth in the preceding paragraph together with end members extending between and secured to the remote ends of the end sections respectively, said end members being adapted to be removably supported on end frames.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a bed frame having spaced side members each formed of a series of sections preferably in the form of channel members, said sections having pivots extending transversely thereof and connecting said sectionsat their adjacent ends, said sections having transversely extending end surfaces arranged to engage when said sections are in longitudinal rectilinear alignment so, that said side members form a bar rigid against downward movement.

It is another object of the invention to provide a structure such as set forth in the preceding paragraph in which the sides of the channel of said sections at one end are offset inwardly to be disposed within the sides of the channel of the adjacent section.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bed frame, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, some parts being shown in different positions in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of an end frame as seen from the inner side thereof;

Fig. 4 is a partial view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of an end frame, certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of adjacent ends of sections of the side members;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrow;

Fig. 7 is a view of the side members and end members in folded or rolled up position; and

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view showing a joint of the frame.

Referring to the drawings, a bed frame is shown comprising front and. rear end members it), and while these could be differently formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as identical, each comprising legforming side members Illa which are connected at their upper ends to the top members Illb. Member Illb is shown as of slightly curved form and the corners of said end frame at the junction of the members 10a and I0?) are slightly rounded. End frame I i! has a cross-bar [0c some distance below the top lllb and bar and top lllb are connected by a plurality of vertical rods or posts Hid. Below bar We a member ll extends between the side members Illa and is rigidly secured thereto. As shown in Fig. 2, member H is in the form of a channel of general U-shape having its open side directed upwardly. Just above bar H the side members Illa are divided and are connected by hinges l2 secured at the inner sides thereof. A bolt or looking member 13 is disposed in the upper portion of side members I 0a and is slidable therein, the same having secured thereto a headed pin I 4 the shank of which projects through a slot lfle formed in the side of the upper part of members lfla. The head of pin [4 is at the outer 'side of side members Illa so that member I3 can be moved by pin l4. When pin l4 and member i3 are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, the upper part of members 10a can be swung about hinges l2, as shown in said figure. When the portions of members Ina are swung into vertical alignment, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, pin I4 is moved to the bottom of slot Hie and member l3 then projects into the lower portion of member [0a thus locking the same in vertical position. Members Illa are thus folda'ble about the hinge [2.

Side members [6 ar provided, each formed of a series of sections 16a. While sections lfia could be variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, they are shown as formed of channel members of right angular form and having their open sides directed downwardly. One end of the sections 16a has the sides of its channel ofiset inwardly, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, so that said sides are disposed within the sides of the adjacent section. The

adjacent ends of the sections are connected by pivots l! extending through and substantially at right angles to the sides of the channel members. The ends of the channels which are not offset have triangular-shaped projections [6b at their lower portions through which pivots H extend, as shown in Fig. 2. Above pivots ll sections Ilia have surfaces 160 extending at right angles to the tops of the sections and these surfaces are arranged to be in engagement when sections I'Ba are disposed in longitudinal recti linear alignment. With this structure a bar is formed when said sections are in longitudinal rectilinear alignment which is rigid against downward pressure. Sections 16 however will move about their pivots l7 upon upward pressure. Plates l8 are secured to the outer sides of the end sections 16a at each end of side members It, said plates being of right angular form and having portions |8a extending across the ends of said end sections. Plates It may be connected in any suitable manner, as by welding or riveting. Members I9, which are illustrated as in the form of channels of substantially U-shape, are connected to the portions Mia and extend between the side members IB. Members l9 may be secured to portions 1.811 in any suitable manner, as by welding or riveting. End members ill have their open sides directed downwardly. The members H and [9 are constructed so that the outer side of member l9 fits snugly in member H but is readily removable therefrom.

lines in Fig. 4. The members I9 are disposed in the members II and sections lfia are in longitudinal rectilinear alignment with the surfaces I60 in engagement. Sections Ilia now form a rigid bar'so that members [6 are rigid against downward pressure. The springs and mattress can now be placed on the frame and the bed used in the usual manner. When it is desired to dismount and collapse the frame, members [9 will be lifted from engagement with members II. It may be stated that hinges 12 are of such a size that they will not interfere with this lifting movement. When members H! are thus disengaged, said members, together with sections Ifia,

can be rolled into compact form, as shown in Fig. 7. Pins l4 and members l3 can be raised and the upper part of the end frames swung into substantially parallel relation to the lower part thereof. The bedframe now will occupy very little space and can be easily moved and transported. In some cases the upper portion of the end frames can be omitted, as in army cots, which will not have the folding end posts or end frames.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple yet very efiicient structure of bed frame and one which can be collapsed and placed in condition to occupy a small space. The frame can also be easily and quickly re-assembled in operative position. The parts, particularly the end frames 10, will be appropriately finishedand coated or painted. It is obvious that the device will have a high degree ofutility for the purpose intended.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scopeof applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A folding bed frame for a bed having four supporting legs having in combination, spaced parallel side members each formed of a channel having its open side directed downwardly and of substantially uniform vertical dimension, each of said side members comprising a series of sections, said sections having overlapping adjacent end portions, pivots respectively connecting said end portions and extending transversely of said channels closely adjacent the bottoms of the sides of said channels, said sections having vertical surfaces at the tops thereof at their adjacent ends adapted to be in contact when said sections are longitudinally aligned, whereby said sections when so aligned are rigid against downward pressure but may swing about said pivots upon upward pressure thereon, the end sections of said side members being respectively connected by plates of inverted. U-shape in vertical cross section with their open sides directed downwardly, end members for said frame each having two supporting legs and plates extending bej'tween the legs of each of said end members,

said last mentioned plates being of U-shape in vertical cross section with their open sides directed upwardly and adapted respectively to receive one side of said first mentioned plates.

FRANK ALBERT HOEFI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 712,671 Haller Nov. 4, 1902 858,475 Scanlan July 2, 1907 1,063,425 Frank June 3, 1913 1,917,777 Scott July 11', 1933 2,400,032 Talbot May 7, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,997 Great Britain of 1889 444,576 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1936 

